18th century Italian base mounted with pyrophyllite in a crystal quartz matrix on a pyrophyllite and quartz base.
This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic flooding of the Arno River in 1966. The piece has been naturally distressed from the flood. The silt from the flood is still on the piece.
The pyrophyllite is put together with the Florence fragment to create a piece that looks as though it evolved together over time. It is a rare mineral from the mountains of North Carolina and is known for its inclusions that fan out of the mineral to create beautiful shapes and designs on the quartz matrix.
The story and history of this piece and Interi's collection of Florence fragments, in particular, are very interesting. While many fragments are distressed due to age, these Florence fragments in particular stand apart. They symbolize a history that has been carried through the streets of Italy, to an Italian palazzo where they were collected, to the Interi studio, to now the modern home or gallery.
Size: 9.5" high x 5" wide x 3.5" deep
